Pull-wind clock



April 10, 1934. R. H. WHITEHEAD Er AL 1,954,658

PULL WIND CLOCK Filed Jan. 9, 1933 Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PULL-WIND CLOCK Richard H. Whitehead,

New Haven, and Jacob a corporation Application January 9,

6 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to clocks, and more particularly to a novel and improved means for winding spring-driven clocks by means of a cord, chain or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a shockabsorbing stop for the winding-cords of pull-wind clocks and thus obviate the frequent breakage of such cords, which is a principal difiiculty attending the use of clocks of this type.

One embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of the free end of the winding-cord of a pull-wind clock with a combined handle and stop, and resilient cushioning means interposed as, or as part of, the means used to attach the handle to the cord.

Other objects and characterizing features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of a clock constructed in accordance with the invention, taken in connection with the 20 accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevaton of one form of clock constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view thereof in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation and partly in central vertical section of a modified form thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a clock, generally indicated by the numeral 10, in which the mainspring is Wound by a rotatable winding-drum 11. Attached to and wound around the drum 11 is a winding-strand 12, of cord, wire, chain or the like, whose free end passes out through an axial bore in the setting-stem 13 of the clock and is attached to a combined handle and resilient stop device, generally indicated by the numeral 14.

The stop 14, as here disclosed, comprises a hol- '40 low drawn-metal body 15 and a bead-shell 16, embracing the base thereof, both being rigidly held together by a hollow rivet 17, through whose central aperture the winding-strand l2 enters the chamber 18 in the hollow body l5. The strand 12 passes through an axially-perforated resilient bumper or shock-absorbing block 19 (Fig. 2) resting against the base of the chamber. A dished metal washer 20, which functions to anchor the end of the strand, rests with its convex side against C@ the outer end of the block 19. The strand 12 passes through the central perforation of the washer 20 and is knotted or otherwise provided with means to prevent the strand from slipping back through the washer.

(5 3 In the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 3, the block 1933, Serial No. 650,798

19 is replaced by a compression-spring 21 abutting at its outer end against the washer and at its inner end bearing against the base of the chamber 18, either directly or mediately by way of a perforated spherical metal bearing 22, or a. second washer in place of the sphere or any other approved means. The strand 12 passes through the perforation of the sphere 22 and down the center of the spring 21.

When the parts are assembled as shown, the outer end of the body 15 may be drawn in, partly as at 23 in Fig. 2, or completely as at 24 in Fig. 3, to retain or completely house therein.

The setting-stem 13 before referred to has secured to its outer end a knurled setting-button 25 and projects outwardly through a guide-sleeve 26 riveted to and projecting outwardly from the clock-oase 1GB. The inner end of the said setting-stem 13 is provided with an outturned flange having an annular series of gear-teeth 27 adapted on occasion to mesh into and turn a gearwheel 28 mounted at the rear end of a settingarbor 29 carrying at its forward end a settingwheel 30. The setting-wheel 30 meshes into a dial-wheel 31 forming a usual feature of the dialwork of a clock and through which the minuteand hour-hands 32 and 33 respectively may be turned for setting, as desired.

Normally, the teeth 27 of the setting-stem 13 are out of mesh with the teeth of the gear-wheel 28 and are held in such position by a helical spring 34 encircling the said stem and seated at its outer end against a shoulder 35 formed in the setting-button 25 and at its inner end against a shoulder 36 formed in 'the guide-sleeve 26.

In operation the clock 10 is wound by grasping the handle 14 with the fingers and pulling the strand 12 out through the stem 13, thus rotating the mainspring winding-drum 11 against the tension of the mainspring and of the strand rewinding-spring, customarily a part of such mechanisms. The strand is then allowed to return under the urge of the strand rewinding-spring and the operation repeated if necessary to complete the winding of the mainspring.

It frequently happens that the handle 14 is released, accidentally or purposely, before the strand is fully rewound, and the strand flies back until brought up with a jerk by the impact of the handle against the stem. Whether the movi' ing parts be heavy for strength or light to reduce inertia, the resulting strain may easily be great enough to snap the strand or otherwise cause damage.

The invention obviates this cause of damage by reducing the abruptness of the shock of the blow by interposing resilient means between the end of the strand and the stem to cushion the blow. Furthermore, as will appear from the drawing, the handle or pull-button 14 is both swiveled and articulately connected to the strand, or pull-cord l2 so that not only is the said strand substantially free from twisting strains, but is also relieved of abrupt bending strains tending to breakage.

It will be evident that the embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are merely illustrative and may be modified and departed from in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed out in and limited only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a pull-wind clock having a strand to be withdrawn from the mechanism thereof for winding the clock, and resilient means to return the strand into the mechanism, the combination with the strand of a hollow handle into which the end of the strand enters and housing a resilient shock-absorbing member interposed between the end of the strand and the handle.

2. In a pull-wind clock having a strand to be withdrawn from the mechanism thereof for winding the clock, and resilient means to return the strand into the mechanism, the combination with the strand of a handle therefor, comprising a hollow body into which the strand enters, a shock-absorbing member through which the strand passes, and an anchoring-member to which the end of the strand is attached.

3. In a pull-wind clock having a strand to be withdrawn from thev mechanism thereof` for winding the clock, and resilient means to return the strand into the mechanism, the combination with the strand of a handle therefor, comprising a hollow body into which the strand enters, a rubber block through which the strand passes, and an anchoring-member to which the end of the strand is attached.

4. In a pull-wind clock having a strand to be withdrawn from the mechanism thereof for winding the clock, and resilient means to return the strand into the mechanism, the combination with the strand of a handle therefor, comprising a hollow "body into which the strand enters, a spring through which the strand passes, and an anchoring-member to which the end of the strand is attached.

5. In a pull-wind clock having a strand to be withdrawn from the mechanismthereof for winding the clock; a rotary setting-member carried by the clock and available for manual manipulation from the exterior thereof for setting the clock, and having a passage through which the sad'strand extends; and a handle independently i RICHARD I-I. WHITEI-IEAD. J. F. LANGBEIN. 

